Speaking of Kimi, he neatly slices Fernado's tire putting the points leader out. Not a word said about that. Race starts are plain crazy always have been always will be. Every time everyone makes it through the start without damage I consider it a minor miracle. Seems like Romain Grosjean has become the flavor of the day. Think maybe others are leaning hard on him knowing he will get the blame if something happens?
Excuse me? You write that like he drove right up to Alonso and took a knife to his tire - there's a significant difference to me - RoGro was going so fast he drove right up over the top of the back of Webba......Kimi did no such thing. 9 bad crashes in 15 races is an unconscionable number, even for a first year driver - but I doubt Maldonado's record is much better.
Guess we saw things in a different way. I was not trying to diminish what Romain did. Just point out that others also do stuff on the starts. I don't think Kimi did his slice job on Fernando on purpose, but Fernando was in front just as Webber was. I don't think Romian hit Webber on purpose either. Heck Webber moved right & Romain hit him. Just racing at the start, sucks but it happens. In fact Kimi drove Perez off track at one point during the race. This is racing & this kind of stuff is going to happen. From F1 to SCCA it happens, just racing. I do not enjoy seeing crashes, but I also hate when racer's are so far apart I read the Sunday newspaper instead of watching the race. Close racing is what it is all about. Like I said earlier Romain has become the flavor of the day. He is running in a fast car at the pointy end of the field where stuff can & does happen.
They're mocking Grosjean with photoshop over on Jalopnik. Sample (actually, this is the only one that's any good IMHO): Article: Let's All Mock F1's Crashiest Race Car Driver
Do Japanese F1 fans like Kamui Kobayashi? Apparently around 10,000 showed up at Suzuka on Mon just because he was doing interviews about his podium, etc, for Japanese TV segments.
Wasn't it the first time a Japanese driver had taken the podium at Suzuka since 1990 or something? I'd be pretty excited by that if it if I were them. I think he's only the third Japanese driver to take a podium at all, iirc. Though, on the other hand, as crowded as Japan is (and believe me it really is - I lived there for a summer) 10,000 people can show up anywhere without much effort.
Peter Sauber steps down, again. Monisha Kaltenborn becomes new Sauber F1 team principal (AutoSport.com)
Another long and relatively interesting article recommendation. This one on motorsportmagazine.com titled “Any idiot can block…†starts in 1955 with Fangio at Spa and talks about etiquette, rules, etc, through to the penalty system of today. That sounds like it must be very long but it's not that bad. The title is a quote from Gilles Villeneuve. Here's the reference:
Here's the Villeneuve - Arnoux battle mentioned above. As a side note, watching those guys bang into each other on that last lap makes me think modern F1 cars are much more fragile. Maybe if bits didn't break off so easily people wouldn't fly off the handle at every racing incident. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nxwn3OHkEw]The Legendary Villeneuve - Arnoux battle at Dijon 1979 - YouTube[/ame]
That was a very interesting read, I'm always fascinated by the history of the sport, and why things have developed. Thanks!
I think making the cars fragile should actually encourage the drivers to THINK before making a move as it would more than likely end one or more drivers races. I hate the new Indy cars, (the oval safety argument aside) they are ugly and allow way to much contact between cars. To much like NASCRAP..... Drivers just need to race, not just win.
I understand what you are saying Steve, but F1 is the highest level of technology & part of that tech is safety. No way they would ever go with making the cars more fragile. I'm not keen about the looks of the new Indy cars either, but I'm a huge fan of the added safety provided by that ugly bodywork.
But in one respect they have made them more fragile, that was my point. Every time a car touches anything, bits fly off. I was pointing out that in the Villeneuve - Arnoux battle they could keep going without their suspensions crumbling to carbon fiber shards. I absolutely agree that the ever-increasing safety factor is a good thing and I don't think the fragile nature of carbon fiber in an impact makes them safer at all. Seems to me suspension components that shatter on impact actually make them less safe. Makes the cars lighter but it seems to me like an unsafe trade for at least some components.
I guess I should have said more fragile that they already are. Yes fragile in some ways, but the tubs are amazingly strong. Shedding parts in a crash dissipates energy keeping it from reaching the driver. The drivers cell remains intact. Carbon-fiber is funny stuff. Incredibly strong in some ways. You see cars take huge hits & look fairly intact. Other times they shed parts like they are held together with a wish & a prayer. Remember the front suspension failing on the Toro Rosso a couple of seasons ago? They build em as light as they can, sometimes too much.
Apparently Button described the Korea track as "Monza for the first 45 seconds; then a mid high-speed section, then driving around your living room."
Another well written article to recommend over on motorsportmagazine.com: Most good stories have a baddie This one is about Grosjean. Here are a couple snips: